Chronic exposure to excess glucocorticoids leads to Cushing's syndrome (CS), with exogenous administration of supraphysiologic doses being the most common cause.[1] The most frequent endogenous etiology of CS is hypersecretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from a pituitary adenoma, termed Cushing's disease (CD).[1] Patients suffering from CD have an estimated four-fold excess mortality, underlying the importance of early diagnosis.[2] The clinical presentation of CS varies significantly; some of the signs (e.g., hypertension, weight gain) are common in the general population, which may delay recognition of the syndrome.

Uncontrolled hypercortisolemia in CS induces immunosuppression that leads to infectious complications in up to 42% of untreated patients.[3] The immune system is impaired in a dose-dependent fashion, with increasing risk of serious and opportunistic infections seen with higher plasma cortisol levels.[4] Among reports of opportunistic infection in CD, few have described tuberculosis (TB): only one report of TB reactivation was found [Table 1] - Tsubota 1991]. We present the first case of a young man who developed TB meningitis and was ultimately diagnosed with CD.{Table 1}

Our patient had a history of latent TB at age 12, treated with 2 months of isoniazid after which he was lost to follow-up. As a 20-year-old male college student, he presented to an emergency room with severe headaches, nausea and photophobia. After treatment for elevated blood pressure, he was discharged. Twenty-four hours later, he was found obtunded. Computed tomography demonstrated multifocal cerebral edema with mild mass effect. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contained elevated protein (2041 mg/dL), elevated WBC (333 cells/μL), decreased glucose (18% of serum), and was culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Appropriate therapy with isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol was initiated along with high-dose dexamethasone. A right frontal ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was inserted for treatment of hydrocephalus. Further investigation of his TB meningitis revealed basal meningitis and multiple tuberculomas on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [Figure 1]. Testing for underlying immunological defects was nondiagnostic. During his admission, despite clearing his CSF of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, cognitive impairment, hearing loss, bitemporal hemianopia, and hypertension were noted. His functional status continued to be poor and was discharged to inpatient rehabilitation, where he made minimal recovery.{Figure 1}

Due to ongoing inflammation without much improvement and the progressive sequelae of high-dose dexamethasone, he was started on weekly methotrexate as a steroid-sparing regimen along with folate supplementation. Despite progressive steroid taper, his weight increased from 86 to 128 kg over 8 months with no improvement in his hypertension. On examination, he was obese with moon facies and a prominent dorsocervical fat pad. An ACTH stimulation test, done to determine hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis function following taper of long-term high-dose steroids, was unexpectedly robustly normal just a few weeks after completion of the taper. These findings prompted workup for hypercortisolemia.

The predisposition to opportunistic infections in states of hypercortisolemia results from effects of glucocorticoids on cellular and humoral immunity. The transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) plays a central role in immune and inflammatory responses and is inhibited by glucocorticoids.[6] Other transcription factors may be affected as well.[7],[8] Glucocorticoid exposure leads to reversible lymphopenia and monocytopenia by decreasing the number of circulating mononuclear leukocytes.[9]

Approximately 10–12% of pituitary adenomas arise from ACTH-secreting corticotropes. In his original report, Harvey Cushing indicated that “the malady appears to leave the patients with a definite susceptibility to infections.”[10] The extent of immunological compromise and risk of opportunistic infections demonstrate a direct relationship with the degree of hypercortisolism.[4] Most frequently such infections in CS occur with ectopic ACTH secretion rather than in CD, as serum cortisol levels are typically much greater.[1] Among reports of infection associated with CD, three reports have described TB infection with only one report of possible reactivation [Table 1] - Tsubota 1991]. In that report, an elderly gentleman diagnosed with CD developed tuberculous peritonitis. He had a past medical history of pulmonary TB and later died of pituitary apoplexy resulting in intraventricular hemorrhage, a rare complication of CD. Two previous cases of TB were also linked to CD; however, the patients had no known prior contact with TB [Table 1] - Hill 1998, Kwon 2006]. To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first case of TB meningitis reported in CD.

This case demonstrates the management challenge of CD and concurrent opportunistic infections. In this patient, effective treatment of presenting TB meningitis included high-dose corticosteroid treatment and may have led to a delay in diagnosis and treatment of CD. HDDST results were also confusing due to concomitant rifampin therapy [5] leading to further delay and the need for IPSS in this patient.

Although tuberculous meningitis has not been previously described in the setting of CD and that it may be a possible coincidental finding with an ACTH-secreting adenoma, our report suggests that hypercortisolemia causes immunosuppression that may lead to reactivation of latent TB and dissemination. We emphasize the need to consider hypercortisolemia in a patient presenting with unexplained immunological compromise and symptoms consistent with cortisol excess.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the Intramural Research Programs of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).